Conveyer



Aug. 19, 1924.

L' E. .1. MCCLAUGHERTY CONVEYER Filed Abrila 18 1923 2 Sheets-Shen l@Warnung Aug.' 19, 1924.

E. J. MCCLAUGHERTY CONVEYER Filed Avril 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet lillPatented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES conversa.

Application filed April 18, 1923. Serial No. 632,973.

To alll whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. MQCLAUGH- ERTY, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates of America, residing at Princeton, in the county of Mercer andState of West Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Conveyers; and 1 do hereby declarethat the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to improvements in conveyers, having for anobject to provide a novel form of conveyer andcleaner thereforespecially adaptable for use in poultry houses and the like as'fa-dropping board, the device being of such construction as to providea substantially solid and plane surfaced platform, which platform is ofsectional arrangement, whereby when the conveyer is moved for cleaning,the same will be permitted to move about the bearing means supportingit.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the device withcleaners or` brushes so constructed and mounted as to allow the same toautomatically adjust themselves to the surface of the platform ordropping board moving thereby and in consequence, effectually lfree it0f any matter adhering thereto.

@ther objects will be in part obvious and in part' pointed 'outhereinafter,

In order that the invention and its inode of operation may be readilyunderstood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanyingillustrative drawings, and in the detailed following description basedthereon, set out one possible embodiment of the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the device;

Figure Lis an end elevation thereof; and, Figure 5 is an enlargedfragmentary detail in section showing` the mounting of the cleaning. orbrush element upon one of the pivotal arms.

` Hav-ing more particular reference to the drawings, in connection withwhich like characters of reference will designate correspQllding partsthroughout, the improved device may be stated to comprise asubstantially rectangular frame indicated in its entirety by the numeral1, having portions of the end walls thereof cut away and provided withhorizontally aligned oppositely disposed bearing brackets 2 which serveto rotatably support thereupon shafts 3 having spaced sprocket wheels iiiXedly mounted thereon; one of these shafts 3 being extended and havinga crank handle or other similar device 5 secured thereto, as shown inthe Figure 4.

Engaged with and adapted to pass about thesev sprocket wheels t areendless sprocket chains 6, the same, obviously, being disposedlongitudinally of the rectangular frame 1 and extending through theopening formed in the opposite vend walls thereof. A platform ordropping board is secured to certain of the sides of 'the endlesssprocket chains 6 and may be stated to comprise transversely disposedslats or bars generally indicated by the numeral 7, said bars' being ofsubstantially AZ-shaped formation or shape as shown in the Figure 3 andhaving their upper portions protected or tappetwith sheathings of sheetmetal indicated by the vnumeral 8. Because of the Z-shaped formation ofthese bars or slats, it will be understood that they rwill have aninterlocking engagement when arranged in juxtaposed position, as isshown'in the Figure' 3, and in consequence, when the platform is in asub-` stantially horizontal position with respect to the rectangularframe 1 the tapped upper portions of said bars will provide asubstantially solid plane surfaced platform or dropping board, devoid ofcrevices or similar.

spaces between which mattermay pass.

However, with movement of the endless sprocket chains 6 about theirrespective sprocket wheels 4, it will be likewise understoodthat'because ofthe sectional construction of the platform, the bars 7will be permitted to freely pass in their semi-orbital path of movementabout the sprocket wheels 4l, assuming those positions as shown in theFigures 1, 2 and 3. When the platform or a portion thereof is arrangedupon the under sides of the sprocket chains 6, they again present asubstantiallv solidplane surface andl in consequence, with engagement ofthe cleaning means,'hereinafter more fully described, will be thoroughlycleaned or freed of such matter as may be adhering thereto at such time.

Longitudinally disposed guide bars 9 and 10 are provided the device, thebars 9 being secured adjacent to the upper marginal portions of theopposite sides of said frame, while the bars 10 are secured to theopposite sides of the frame directly below the endless sprocket chains6. The opposite ends of these bars 9 and 10 are bevelled, as indicatedat 11, and are so spaced with relation to the endless sprocket chains asto afford effectual guide Imeans for the sectional platform or droppingboard, causing it, when passing thereby, to have the various sections orbars thereof arranged in proper juxtaposed relation whereby to providethe solid plane surface hereinbefore referred to. Also, idler rollers 12arev mounted in suitable bearings in the opposite side walls oftherectangular frame 1 directly below the upper sides of the endlesssprocket chains 6, and as will be understood, will serve to provideeffectual supporting means therefor, whereby with movement of thesectional platform or dropping board 7 under the longitudinal guides 8,the same will be retained in the desired horizontal position andlikewise, the stability of the same accordingly increased. I I

Pivotally mounted in the lower portions of the opposite ends of therectangular frame 1.are arms 13 and 14 interconnected at their upperends by means of a longitudinally disposed connecting bar 15. These arms13 and 14 are of lengths approximately corresponding to the width of thesectional platform or dropping board and receive upon the upper portionsof their outer sides bars 16 having transversely disposed slots 17formed therein and adapted to receive locking screws 18 therethrough,suchlocking screws being engaged in adjacent portions ofthe arms `13 and14 and in consequence,

' serving to lock the bars 16 in adjusted relation with respect to theirparticular arms. Thus, vertical'adjustment of the bars 16 may beeffected, so that the same may be moved towards or away from the endlesssprocket chains 6. Brushes or cleaning elements 19 are carried in theupper marginal portions of the several bars 16 and are adapted to beengaged with the metal sheathed outer surfaces of the various transversebars constituting the platform or dropping boa-rd of the device in orderthat any matter adhering thereto may be removed from the same duringmovement of the platform thereby.

To permit of swinging movement of the pivotally mounted arms 14 ineither direction, arcuate slots 20` are formed in the opposite endportions of the several sides of the frame 1 and freceive therethrough,fingers or pins 21, the outer ends of certain of which are connectedthrough the con- Ilecting bar 15, while the outer ends of the bepermitted to have pivotal movement.-

However, inv order that the arms 13 and 14 with their cleaning elements-may r-be normally maintained -in substantially upright positions, asshown in the Figure 3,1 connect a contractile coiled spring 23 at oneend to a portion ofthe connectingbarfl as indicated at 24,while theopposite end thereof is yconnected to a portion -ofthe adjacent sidewall of the frame 1:'as at 25. Also, a pivoted catoh26 ismounted uponthe said side of the frame 1 and is adapted to have the lower endthereof engaged in a notch vor seatformed in one portion of thevconnectingbar 15 1n the manner indicated" in the Figure 1;avcontraotile. coiledsprlngl 27 being connected at one end to theremain'- ing or free portionof the catch 26` and at its oppositeA end,asat 28, to an adjacent portion of the corresponding side walll of theframe 1. Hence, the opposite end of said catch" 26 will be normallyretained in` a position whereat it will engage in or be prepared toengage in the seat or notch formed in the connecting bar 15. Withkengagement of the catch 26 in the seat or notch in the connecting bar15, the arms 13 and 14 will be retained" in theirv vertical or' uprightpositions. However, with application of pressure to the cleaningdevices, the catch 26 will be caused to disengage from-the'bar 15,

counteracting the tension of the contractile` coiled springl 27 andthereby preventingo-f pivotal movement of the arms 13 andv 14 in thatdirection corresponding to the pressure applied thereto. Because oftheconnection of the contractile coiled spring 23 thereto, it will beunderstood that when the endless chains 6 are moved in the directionindicated by the arrows in the Figure k3,*ivthe cleaning elements 19will be retained" in yieldable engagement with the outer surface of thesectional platformor -dropping board. If desired, a second coiledspring, corresponding tothe spring 23, vmay be en-y gaged with theopposite connecting bar 22, so that when the arms 13 and 14Kare moved inan opposite direction, tension may be likewise applied thereto forretaining thev cleaning elements 19 in yieldable engage' ment with theouter surface of the sectional platform ory dropping board. f

When the device is used as la dropping board for poultry,'I may andpreferably dov provide supporting shoulders 29 in the opposite ends ofthe opposite portions of the frame 1 and engage thereon suitable roostsconsisting of longitudinally disposed interconnected bars 30, thearrangement of the roosts, as will be noted upon reference to theFigures 2 and 3, being directly over the sectional dropping board.

In operation of the improved device, the dropping board or platform isarranged in its horizontal position directly below the roosts 30 andupon the upper sides of the sprocket chains 6. When it is desired toclean the surface of the boards, rotary motion is imparted to thesprocket chains 6 by way of the crank handle 5 mounted upon the extendedend of one of the shafts 3 and said dropping board is then caused topass over the sprocket wheels at one end of the frame l and downwardlythereabout, whereat the cleaning devices 19 will be engaged with thesheet metal sheathed outer portions of the bars 7 thereof, thus removingany matter adhering thereto and as hereinbefore stated, being permittedto have pivotal movement whereby said cleaning devices will be permittedto automatically ad just themselves with respect to the surface beingcleaned and likewise, be retained in vieldable engagement therewith inorder that the surface will be effectually cleaned. Also, if desired, asuitable receptacle, indicated in dotted lines by the numeral 31 may bearranged adjacent one end of the endless conveyer, directly beneath it,whereby to receive such matter as may be removed from the platform bythe adjacent cleaning device. v

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerablemodification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims,I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a frame, bea-ringsrotatably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said frame, endlesscarriers engaged about and movable over said bearings, a sectionalplatform secured to said carriers, arms pivotally mounted in the lowerportions of the opposite ends of said frame, bars interconnecting saidarms, spring means connected to said bars and to the adjacent sides ofsaid frame, means engaging one of said bars for retaining the pivotalarms in normally upright positions, and cleaning means carried by saidarms adapted to be engaged with the surface of said platform withmovement of the same.

2. A device of the character described comprising a frame, bearingsrotatably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said frame, endlesscarriers engaged about and movable over said bearings, a sectionalplatform secured to said carriers, arms pivotally mounted in the lowerportions of the opposite ends of said frame having their upper portionsarranged in proximity to the under sides of said endless carriers, theopposite end portions of the sides of said frame having arcuate slotsformed therein, lingers extending from the opposite upper end portionsof said arms engaged in said slots, longitudinally disposed connectingbars arranged adjacent the outer portions of the opposite sides of saidframe and connected to said lingers, spring means connected to saidbars, meansvengageable with one of said bars for locking the same inposition and normally retaining said pivotal arms in upright positions,and cleaning devices adjustably carried upon the upper portions of saidarms adapted tobe engaged with the surface of said platform withmovement of the same.

3. A device of the character described comprising a frame, shaftsmounted in the opposite ends of said frame, sprocket wheels mounted inspaced relation upon said shafts, endless sprocket chains engaged withand adapted to be moved about said sprocket wheels, a sectional platformsecured to said chains comprising transversely arranged barssubstantially Zshaped in cross section adapted to have interfittingengagement when arranged in juxtaposed relation, metal sheathingcovering the upper portions of said Z-shaped bars, arms pivotallymounted in the lower portions of the opposite ends of said frame, theopposite end portions of the sides of said frame having arcuate slotsformed therein, lingers extending from the opposite end portions of saidarms engaged in said slots, longitudinally disposed connecting barsengaging said lingers at their opposite ends, spring means connected tovsaid bars and to the adjacent sides of said frame, a pivotal catchmounted upon one side of the frame adapted to be engaged in a notchformed in the adjacent connecting bar, cleaning devices adjustablymounted upon the upper portions of said pivotal arm and adapted to beadjusted vertically with relation thereto, and a roost received in theopen upper portion of said frame directly above the sectional platform.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD JOSEPH McCLAUGHERTY.

